Thousands of years ago the world was divide into land and sea. Those of the land grew their crops, built their homes, the forests where filled with creatures and magic and trees grew proud and strong. Then the sea rose up and swallowed the land taking with it a whole way of life and thousands of innocent souls.
Nobody really tells the same story of why the Sea revolted. Many spin the old legend to their children that a powerful sea wench made the sea swallow the land because she was not able to set foot there and wanted more power, even then the story varies from place to place, person to person. Learned men say that magic had nothing to do with it, that the world is just an ever changing, living thing and that it simply changed because it evolved. Again the theories on that change and develop and every scholar worth his ink brings a different one to the table. However one thing stays the same...most people don't really care!
The world's surface is now 90% ocean known simply as the Stretch, the 10% of land that remains where once the tallest land masses that the great disaster left behind, the tops of the highest mountains. The people of the world have had to learn to live on the waters surface as they once did on land, the secret to this? Life learned to float. Nobody remembers what it was like to live any other way, nobody remembers what real land was like. This is the new normal.
Nobody really tells the same story of why the Sea revolted. Many spin the old legend to their children that a powerful sea wench made the sea swallow the land because she was not able to set foot there and wanted more power, even then the story varies from place to place, person to person. Learned men say that magic had nothing to do with it, that the world is just an ever changing, living thing and that it simply changed because it evolved. Again the theories on that change and develop and every scholar worth his ink brings a different one to the table. However one thing stays the same...most people don't really care!
The world's surface is now 90% ocean known simply as the Stretch, the 10% of land that remains where once the tallest land masses that the great disaster left behind, the tops of the highest mountains. The people of the world have had to learn to live on the waters surface as they once did on land, the secret to this? Life learned to float. Nobody remembers what it was like to live any other way, nobody remembers what real land was like. This is the new normal.
Cowery shells are used on the Stretch as we use coins and each one has a set amount. Below are the names and appearance of each shell. They work on a metric system much like pounds and pence, this conversion tells you how much each shell is worth in the base form of currency.
Since the land was lost, so where the religions that went with it. Those Gods and Goddesses became irrelevant, instead people started to worship the nature spirits of the Ocean, the most important of these is known simply as the Lady of the Sea. Said to be a shapeshifter who may take the shape of any creature that lives on or under the waves, each race has a different depiction of her correlating to their own shape.
There are hundreds of different rituals which honor the Lady of the Sea, each for different reasons but all aimed to show respect to the nature of the sea and those who dwell in and on it. For example:
Before voyage of any great length a Captain of a ship must go swimming in the sea without weapons for an hour outside the protective ring of rune stones, to show the Lady of the Sea that he respects that he is at her mercy and that he trusts her not send her creatures of the deep to harm him.
Though she is not a goddess that they know of, she is seen as a guardian and someone to be appeased and respect...It also helps to have a name to curse when you smack your thumb with a hammer.
There are hundreds of different rituals which honor the Lady of the Sea, each for different reasons but all aimed to show respect to the nature of the sea and those who dwell in and on it. For example:
Before voyage of any great length a Captain of a ship must go swimming in the sea without weapons for an hour outside the protective ring of rune stones, to show the Lady of the Sea that he respects that he is at her mercy and that he trusts her not send her creatures of the deep to harm him.
Though she is not a goddess that they know of, she is seen as a guardian and someone to be appeased and respect...It also helps to have a name to curse when you smack your thumb with a hammer.
Floating Ports
Sprawled along the surface of the Stretch are the Great Ports, five of them to be exact. Structures of wood or stone that are anchored to the sea floor so far below and made to float on the water surface, despite their weight, by magic. Here communities, live, work, shop and find their enjoyment for a while in the taverns, entertainment buildings, bathhouses, and pleasure parlors. There are many such Ports anchored all over the Stretch to break up the bleak and forbidding outlook of nothing but water.
Apart from the Great Ports there are also smaller Ports around the Stretch, some of them are for specific trades such as “The Gardens of Beauty” one of the most famous and well visited Ports which is dedicated to the arts of entertainment and pleasure, the entire port is one big entertainment facility, pleasure house with guest rooms and banquette hall. Other such small ports are second hand wood merchants, seaweed and fish farms, scrap merchants and salvage yards. Some consist of little more than a couple of buildings and act as rest stops and Taverns.
Each Port is surrounded by a ring of rune-stones that act as a deterrent for predatory sea-life such as sharks that might be attracted by the splashing and the smells in the water around a port. They normally lie in a half mile radius from the edge of the port, buried in the sand.
The Great Ports below are each home to around seven thousand people and their businesses
Port Brighell - Famous for it's jewellers, fine body decorations and clothing. This is the Port that spreads beautiful wares around the others for those with shells to spend. They love to show off their clothing and jewels especially to their rich clientèle (of which there are many) even going so far are to hold shows. Most of their public buildings are lavishly decorated with stunning décor and elaborate patterns and colours.
Port Hullwood - Famous for master craftsmen of worked metals, pottery, weaving and wood. Down to earth workers who have a great pride in their merchandise, most of the cookery pots, Cauldrons, work tools, weapons and rolls of cloth come from this port. They also own a island that is dedicated to the building of new ships, their master shipbuilders are rivaled by no other....well as long as you mean those that work legally. Décor in their public rooms tends to be well made but much more low key, natural colours more than elaborately patterned and covered in sparkles.
Port Irongulf - Famous for the extraction of raw materials, smelting ore and Gemstones. The people here don't much bother with making things look too fancy, especially seeing as their jobs involve them getting very hot, sweaty and/or dirty. There are a lot of bathhouses where people can go to get cleaned up but most of the common public buildings are used by grubby men and women coming in from a hard days graft and getting a drink of something to cool down. Due to their abiltiies in diving this Port is home to many Ampho's, Selkies and Merfolk.
Port Dames - Famous for the fish-markets and fishing fleets. Down to earth people who know how to let their hair down and have a good time and do so as often as possible. If your looking for a good fishing net, a rod that no fish can snap or tonight's supper fresh from the arms of the Lady of the Sea herself , this is where you come. Blue, teal, purple and white are the colours of choice for this Port along with anything fish or sea related. Art, decoration, patterns on the cloth are all relativity common place in the public area's and depict rolling waves. fish, ships and other sea-like themes .
The Sheller's Port - Famous for farming the currency shells, preparing them to be marked up for each port and the engravers who do so. Pretty much everyone is under the employment of the Blank Bank which is situated at the very centre of the port and is made of stone, like a Castle of old. People work with currency all day and are careful with what they spend their own on. Everything they buy is of good quality, so that it looks good and will last for a long time. Shells are their passion not just their day jobs.
Fleet Communities
Those that don't like to stay in one place too long have the option of living in one of the many Fleets that roam the Stretch. No longer are ships just used for fishing and transport or cargo as they where before the flood, now they house a portion of a community, a Fleet is like a town on the move spread over many ships.
People live and work together to keep the ships going and the people aboard healthy. They go from port to port, acting as ferries for passengers, or transport for cargo, they stay a while anchored in the docks to sell their wares or ply their trades for supplies. It's a self contained nomadic life in a Fleet but it brings a great sense of loyalty, teamwork and community.
Life is by no means easy, the work is hard and there are just as many dangers on the open Stretch as there are lurking round the corner of any port and the Ports have a good few rumors about fleets that can cause tensions between the two. They have to keep up to date on areas of the Stretch that are not safe to travel threw and as always there is the danger that they might be the targets of Pirates or wild Mermaids. However sickness is a Fleets worst enemy. When a community lives so closely together and so far from medical attention entire ships can be whipped out by a single outbreak.
Floating Islands and Land
What is left of the land and magically created floating islands are not for living on. Without vast expanses of land as in the olden days, the floating islands are are the sole providers of grown food and plant life and are also used for the grazing of livestock. Earth Elves are almost the soul inhabitants of these little areas green paradise, their blood-born earth magic is perfect for keeping the Stretch supplied in meat. vegetables, cereals, raw cotton, silk and most importantly of all, wood.
Other Creatures such as Fairies and Nymphs help to keep the crops healthy and ensure a balance, but Earth Elves are the main residents of the Islands, though people in need of supplies will often use an island as an emergency stop to take a few hours rest before going on their way or sheltering from a storm. Everyone on the Stretch knows that in some way they are in the debt of the Earth Elves and their hard work, but Earth Elves have gained a bad reputation thanks to their wealth and entitled attitudes not to mention their separatist ideas and thought people smile to their face they are making some not so pleasant gestures behind their backs.
Sky Cities
The Air elves much prefer the peace found among the clouds, their floating cities house thousands of people as well as the vast expanse of knowledge both new and old. However up in the clouds, in the beautifully sculpted walkways and homes, people are chosen for their places. Those who can write, paint, sculpt and carve, those versed in healing and magic, music and dance. To be offered a place in the sky is rare and shows that you have proven yourself in your chosen field. The Air Elves have made communities of great learning, artistry and beauty.
Though a life in the clouds is for the few, the benefits that are cultivated are not. The Healing House is also found up in the clouds, where healers tend to the sick and wounded. Though anyone is welcome and the care is free people only take the journey if their affliction in serious, you must be recommended by a healer before they allow you to in. The Libraries are also open to the public and there are three air ships per day and people are counted on and off to ensure nobody has attempted to escape into the city above
Sprawled along the surface of the Stretch are the Great Ports, five of them to be exact. Structures of wood or stone that are anchored to the sea floor so far below and made to float on the water surface, despite their weight, by magic. Here communities, live, work, shop and find their enjoyment for a while in the taverns, entertainment buildings, bathhouses, and pleasure parlors. There are many such Ports anchored all over the Stretch to break up the bleak and forbidding outlook of nothing but water.
Apart from the Great Ports there are also smaller Ports around the Stretch, some of them are for specific trades such as “The Gardens of Beauty” one of the most famous and well visited Ports which is dedicated to the arts of entertainment and pleasure, the entire port is one big entertainment facility, pleasure house with guest rooms and banquette hall. Other such small ports are second hand wood merchants, seaweed and fish farms, scrap merchants and salvage yards. Some consist of little more than a couple of buildings and act as rest stops and Taverns.
Each Port is surrounded by a ring of rune-stones that act as a deterrent for predatory sea-life such as sharks that might be attracted by the splashing and the smells in the water around a port. They normally lie in a half mile radius from the edge of the port, buried in the sand.
The Great Ports below are each home to around seven thousand people and their businesses
Port Brighell - Famous for it's jewellers, fine body decorations and clothing. This is the Port that spreads beautiful wares around the others for those with shells to spend. They love to show off their clothing and jewels especially to their rich clientèle (of which there are many) even going so far are to hold shows. Most of their public buildings are lavishly decorated with stunning décor and elaborate patterns and colours.
Port Hullwood - Famous for master craftsmen of worked metals, pottery, weaving and wood. Down to earth workers who have a great pride in their merchandise, most of the cookery pots, Cauldrons, work tools, weapons and rolls of cloth come from this port. They also own a island that is dedicated to the building of new ships, their master shipbuilders are rivaled by no other....well as long as you mean those that work legally. Décor in their public rooms tends to be well made but much more low key, natural colours more than elaborately patterned and covered in sparkles.
Port Irongulf - Famous for the extraction of raw materials, smelting ore and Gemstones. The people here don't much bother with making things look too fancy, especially seeing as their jobs involve them getting very hot, sweaty and/or dirty. There are a lot of bathhouses where people can go to get cleaned up but most of the common public buildings are used by grubby men and women coming in from a hard days graft and getting a drink of something to cool down. Due to their abiltiies in diving this Port is home to many Ampho's, Selkies and Merfolk.
Port Dames - Famous for the fish-markets and fishing fleets. Down to earth people who know how to let their hair down and have a good time and do so as often as possible. If your looking for a good fishing net, a rod that no fish can snap or tonight's supper fresh from the arms of the Lady of the Sea herself , this is where you come. Blue, teal, purple and white are the colours of choice for this Port along with anything fish or sea related. Art, decoration, patterns on the cloth are all relativity common place in the public area's and depict rolling waves. fish, ships and other sea-like themes .
The Sheller's Port - Famous for farming the currency shells, preparing them to be marked up for each port and the engravers who do so. Pretty much everyone is under the employment of the Blank Bank which is situated at the very centre of the port and is made of stone, like a Castle of old. People work with currency all day and are careful with what they spend their own on. Everything they buy is of good quality, so that it looks good and will last for a long time. Shells are their passion not just their day jobs.
Fleet Communities
Those that don't like to stay in one place too long have the option of living in one of the many Fleets that roam the Stretch. No longer are ships just used for fishing and transport or cargo as they where before the flood, now they house a portion of a community, a Fleet is like a town on the move spread over many ships.
People live and work together to keep the ships going and the people aboard healthy. They go from port to port, acting as ferries for passengers, or transport for cargo, they stay a while anchored in the docks to sell their wares or ply their trades for supplies. It's a self contained nomadic life in a Fleet but it brings a great sense of loyalty, teamwork and community.
Life is by no means easy, the work is hard and there are just as many dangers on the open Stretch as there are lurking round the corner of any port and the Ports have a good few rumors about fleets that can cause tensions between the two. They have to keep up to date on areas of the Stretch that are not safe to travel threw and as always there is the danger that they might be the targets of Pirates or wild Mermaids. However sickness is a Fleets worst enemy. When a community lives so closely together and so far from medical attention entire ships can be whipped out by a single outbreak.
Floating Islands and Land
What is left of the land and magically created floating islands are not for living on. Without vast expanses of land as in the olden days, the floating islands are are the sole providers of grown food and plant life and are also used for the grazing of livestock. Earth Elves are almost the soul inhabitants of these little areas green paradise, their blood-born earth magic is perfect for keeping the Stretch supplied in meat. vegetables, cereals, raw cotton, silk and most importantly of all, wood.
Other Creatures such as Fairies and Nymphs help to keep the crops healthy and ensure a balance, but Earth Elves are the main residents of the Islands, though people in need of supplies will often use an island as an emergency stop to take a few hours rest before going on their way or sheltering from a storm. Everyone on the Stretch knows that in some way they are in the debt of the Earth Elves and their hard work, but Earth Elves have gained a bad reputation thanks to their wealth and entitled attitudes not to mention their separatist ideas and thought people smile to their face they are making some not so pleasant gestures behind their backs.
Sky Cities
The Air elves much prefer the peace found among the clouds, their floating cities house thousands of people as well as the vast expanse of knowledge both new and old. However up in the clouds, in the beautifully sculpted walkways and homes, people are chosen for their places. Those who can write, paint, sculpt and carve, those versed in healing and magic, music and dance. To be offered a place in the sky is rare and shows that you have proven yourself in your chosen field. The Air Elves have made communities of great learning, artistry and beauty.
Though a life in the clouds is for the few, the benefits that are cultivated are not. The Healing House is also found up in the clouds, where healers tend to the sick and wounded. Though anyone is welcome and the care is free people only take the journey if their affliction in serious, you must be recommended by a healer before they allow you to in. The Libraries are also open to the public and there are three air ships per day and people are counted on and off to ensure nobody has attempted to escape into the city above
The Dragon Fleet
These mercenaries are the workers of law and order threw the leaders of a Port or at least they are if the price is right. Should Pirates sack your Port you can hire the Dragon Fleet to track them down and deal with them for you, they will of course take a good share of anything they find on the ship and take it as payment for work as well as the advance that you paid them for taking the job.
Their home is the Dragon's Nest. A sky barracks that was raised for them by the Air Elves. Their ranks are made up of all sorts of races, they are a great equal opportunities employer and though they have ranks their officers have been promoted on skill and standing rather than buying their way up. Alongside the Nest is the Dragon Hive a rock pitted with tunnels and caves where the last remaining Dragons slumber when they are not in use or out hunting for their supper.
The Dragon Fleet are the sole keepers of all the remaining dragons and have regulated their breeding so they do not overpopulate and outgrow their home. The Dragons not only gave rise to the name of the Fleet but are it's deadliest weapon and the reason people fear to have them on their tail.
Those that do not fly in the Skies with the their namesakes are often employed by the ports to act as law enforcement. They will only act so long as they are paid and are not always in residence. When the money runs out so does their presence and their persistence in hunting criminals is only a veracious as their payment dictates.
The Thieves Guild
The Thieves Guild are the underground organised criminal body located in the Ports of the Stretch. They are the men and women in shadowy rooms and smoky dens that conspire to make a dishonest living right under the nose of everyone else. As their leaders say, if your going to have crime, it might as well be organised.
Each floating port has one Guild Head, unless the Port is very large in which case there might be up to three Guild Heads controlling sections of the port. Each Guild Head has a crest that consists of either an animal, fish or bird, the name of which is the name he/she adopts. All of his underlings use this as a means of telling each other apart from none Guild criminals and use it's image as a calling card. There is a structure to each Guild house.
These mercenaries are the workers of law and order threw the leaders of a Port or at least they are if the price is right. Should Pirates sack your Port you can hire the Dragon Fleet to track them down and deal with them for you, they will of course take a good share of anything they find on the ship and take it as payment for work as well as the advance that you paid them for taking the job.
Their home is the Dragon's Nest. A sky barracks that was raised for them by the Air Elves. Their ranks are made up of all sorts of races, they are a great equal opportunities employer and though they have ranks their officers have been promoted on skill and standing rather than buying their way up. Alongside the Nest is the Dragon Hive a rock pitted with tunnels and caves where the last remaining Dragons slumber when they are not in use or out hunting for their supper.
The Dragon Fleet are the sole keepers of all the remaining dragons and have regulated their breeding so they do not overpopulate and outgrow their home. The Dragons not only gave rise to the name of the Fleet but are it's deadliest weapon and the reason people fear to have them on their tail.
Those that do not fly in the Skies with the their namesakes are often employed by the ports to act as law enforcement. They will only act so long as they are paid and are not always in residence. When the money runs out so does their presence and their persistence in hunting criminals is only a veracious as their payment dictates.
The Thieves Guild
The Thieves Guild are the underground organised criminal body located in the Ports of the Stretch. They are the men and women in shadowy rooms and smoky dens that conspire to make a dishonest living right under the nose of everyone else. As their leaders say, if your going to have crime, it might as well be organised.
Each floating port has one Guild Head, unless the Port is very large in which case there might be up to three Guild Heads controlling sections of the port. Each Guild Head has a crest that consists of either an animal, fish or bird, the name of which is the name he/she adopts. All of his underlings use this as a means of telling each other apart from none Guild criminals and use it's image as a calling card. There is a structure to each Guild house.
Though the Guild is an alliance it is one of dishonest and power hungry members and so even though Guild Heads work together to avoid being captured, they are always on the look out to grab or bargain territory or in some cases throw their partners to the Dragon's in order to expand territory or political reach, however they have to be careful, if they are not successful they might find they are now in the firing line. Guild heads are not always what you might expect, just because someone is a criminal doesn't mean they don't have a public face, they could be ANYONE!
Unregistered criminals might end up either in the hands of the authorities or a floating, bloated corpse in the docks if they are caught by the Guild Head in the area they are working in. Some have managed to avoid the guilds and operate outside their control but they are few and far between and according to most people, stupid. A great many of the businesses are funded by the Thieves Guild to help them move their spoils and they have no problem pointing out people in the crowd who might be stealing profits.
The Pirates
Pirates of the Stretch have very little interest in gold and trinkets, sure they can spend them in the pleasure districts and use them to grease the palms of people and officials but they don't have much more use for them than that. They are much more interested in magical items, food stocks, weapons and that rarest and most expensive commodity, wood.
Pirates are feared most their habit of disabling ships and slaughtering or absorbing the people abroad and pulling the vestal apart for the wood, which later is used to patch up their own ships or is sold on by their port based allies the Thieves Guild. Though selling used wood and drift wood is not a crime where you get it from and how it is obtained is carefully watched by the Dragon Fleet on behalf of the Earth Elves.
Skin Traders
Selkie skins and Merfolk scales as well as items like Dragon and Sea Serpent scales sell for a very high price on the black market. Of course this trade is absolutely illegal as is the hunting of Seals as it is almost impossible to tell apart normal Seals and Selkies in the water.
Many skin traders steal Selkie skins from Selkies while they are in their human form, cutting them off from the Sea. It is not unknown for a man or woman to arrange to have a Selkie's skin stolen because they had fallen for their human form and without their seal skin they cannot return to their Seal form or the sea. Many people will buy these skins either because of their illegal status or to extract favors from the Selkie it belongs to.
To combat this trade of Merfolk scales, Mermaids have started selling their shed scales, legalizing them so that the demand for the illegal ones will die out, meaning that Merfolk will no longer be hunted, but it still happens.
Unregistered criminals might end up either in the hands of the authorities or a floating, bloated corpse in the docks if they are caught by the Guild Head in the area they are working in. Some have managed to avoid the guilds and operate outside their control but they are few and far between and according to most people, stupid. A great many of the businesses are funded by the Thieves Guild to help them move their spoils and they have no problem pointing out people in the crowd who might be stealing profits.
The Pirates
Pirates of the Stretch have very little interest in gold and trinkets, sure they can spend them in the pleasure districts and use them to grease the palms of people and officials but they don't have much more use for them than that. They are much more interested in magical items, food stocks, weapons and that rarest and most expensive commodity, wood.
Pirates are feared most their habit of disabling ships and slaughtering or absorbing the people abroad and pulling the vestal apart for the wood, which later is used to patch up their own ships or is sold on by their port based allies the Thieves Guild. Though selling used wood and drift wood is not a crime where you get it from and how it is obtained is carefully watched by the Dragon Fleet on behalf of the Earth Elves.
Skin Traders
Selkie skins and Merfolk scales as well as items like Dragon and Sea Serpent scales sell for a very high price on the black market. Of course this trade is absolutely illegal as is the hunting of Seals as it is almost impossible to tell apart normal Seals and Selkies in the water.
Many skin traders steal Selkie skins from Selkies while they are in their human form, cutting them off from the Sea. It is not unknown for a man or woman to arrange to have a Selkie's skin stolen because they had fallen for their human form and without their seal skin they cannot return to their Seal form or the sea. Many people will buy these skins either because of their illegal status or to extract favors from the Selkie it belongs to.
To combat this trade of Merfolk scales, Mermaids have started selling their shed scales, legalizing them so that the demand for the illegal ones will die out, meaning that Merfolk will no longer be hunted, but it still happens.
Blood Born Magic
Blood born magic comes from a time before the Sea swallowed the land and the records of how it came into being have been lost but it is known that blood-born magic is only found in creatures that are not human. Blood-born magic is different for each race much of it never needs to be taught because it is instinctual or simply a way of life. The blood-born magic of each race can be found on the RACES page, where there is a small explanations as to their powers.
Blood-born magic is not strong enough to combat the watering down of bloodlines, people who are the product of two difference races with this type of magic do not have the full blown blood magic’s of both of their parents. One magic or the other will be stronger, it is the luck of the draw as to which wins out but it is assumed that the stronger of the two magics will absorb the power of the other.
Should someone with a blood-born magic have a child with a Human then the child will have weaker blood-born magics of it's parent. The more the blood is watered down, the less power the child with have. Children with any less than a quarter of the blood of another race will be unable to tap into any Blood-born Magics of their ancestors. The blood is far too weak to be of any help, any signs as to another race in the bloodline would be purely Physical. Remember, the more watered down the blood the less magical ability a character of mixed race will have.
Blood born magic comes from a time before the Sea swallowed the land and the records of how it came into being have been lost but it is known that blood-born magic is only found in creatures that are not human. Blood-born magic is different for each race much of it never needs to be taught because it is instinctual or simply a way of life. The blood-born magic of each race can be found on the RACES page, where there is a small explanations as to their powers.
Blood-born magic is not strong enough to combat the watering down of bloodlines, people who are the product of two difference races with this type of magic do not have the full blown blood magic’s of both of their parents. One magic or the other will be stronger, it is the luck of the draw as to which wins out but it is assumed that the stronger of the two magics will absorb the power of the other.
Should someone with a blood-born magic have a child with a Human then the child will have weaker blood-born magics of it's parent. The more the blood is watered down, the less power the child with have. Children with any less than a quarter of the blood of another race will be unable to tap into any Blood-born Magics of their ancestors. The blood is far too weak to be of any help, any signs as to another race in the bloodline would be purely Physical. Remember, the more watered down the blood the less magical ability a character of mixed race will have.
Rune Magic
Rune magic is an art form, it is also the secret to the floating life. Every Port, Sky city, Air-ship and Floating island stays on the surface of the water and tethered to the spot but rune magic in the form of loadstones or loadcrystals Loadstones are naturally occurring rocks with magnetic ability. Air Elves discovered that it was not just metals that the loadstones could attract but also, with the proper use of runes carved into the surface, to constraint the stones pull to natural magic in the world, it occurs everywhere but nobody could use it because they had no way to naturally tap into it. Runes where the answer. By carving the correct spells or combination of runes into a loadstone great structures could be made to float on the surface of the sea almost untouched by it's rough weathers or natures degradation. Loadsones have to be check on however to ensure that they are continuing to work as they should as the runes can become worn. Loadcrystals are the same only they never had a natural pull to begin with, they are more intricately carved with their spells but they work just as well as their less shiny brothers and sisters. They are mostly asked for because they are much prettier than their bland forbears and people always want to make a feature. Runes carved into rocks or gems are used every day by everyone, they are as common as they are necessary. They have been used to power everything from pumps, to ovens and they change hands as payments for services rendered or favors fulfilled. The runes of these stones are very simple to activated with a command word, normally very simple and linked to it's purpose, skin to stone contact is required, only the one who started the runestone can stop it, very simply by saying “cease”. Below are examples: Heat stone: Normally carved into a red gem or crystal of some kind. As wood is a rare and expensive commodity the idea of burning it ridiculous. Heat stones are used to boil water and when put into an oven in the center of a ring of stones, conducts the heat creating a surface to cook on. The activation word is simply “Heat” Purification stone: Exactly as it sounds, this stone is dropped into a buckets of seawater and draws all of the salt an impurities making it safe to drink and use for things such as bathing. Activation word: “Draw”. ((Note: one of these lives in every home and was provided by the Port or island. Loose it and you have to buy a new one, no more freebies.)) |